Cobalt Boats 222 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 262 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 is the longer of the two at 25,6 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 222 2011 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 4,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2012?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 has the edge at 41 lbs dry weight versus 5 425 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 262 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 222 2011 is rated to a maximum of 320 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 tops out at 6 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Cobalt Boats 222 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 is certified for 2. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 and Cobalt Boats 262 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 has the bigger tank at 73 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 222 2011. That 68-gallon difference translates to roughly 204–340 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 and Cobalt Boats 262 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 and the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 are built by Cobalt Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Cobalt Boats 222 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 262 2012

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 222 2011

2011

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 262 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 222 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 262 2012 — Which Deep Vee Fits Your Needs?

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 and the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 measures 25,6 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 4,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 at 21,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 tips the scales at 5 425 lbs — 5 384 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 at 41 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 320 hp, the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 has a 314-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 262 2012's 6-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 carries 73 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Cobalt Boats 222 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Cobalt Boats 222 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 21,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Model222

Model262

Model Year2011

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - DetailWithout Bimini: 4 ft. 9 in. (1.45 m) With Arch or Tower: 7 ft. 6 in. (2.29 m)

Bridge clearance - DetailWithout Bimini: 5 ft. 3 in. (1.6 m) With Arch or Tower: 8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.29

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Inches9

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Deadrise21°

Draft [drive up] - Detail26 in. (0.66 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail21 in. (0.53 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.66

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] inches26

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (0.91 m)

Draft [max] - Detail37 in. (0.94 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches37

Weight - Detail4,100 lbs. (1,860 kg)

Weight - Detail5,425 lbs. (2,461 kg)

Weight - kg1859.73

Weight - kg2460.74

Weight - lbs.41

Weight - lbs.5425

Length - Feet21

Length - Feet25.58

Length [over all with swim platform]23 ft. 7 in. (7.11 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 7 in. (8.41 m)

Length overall - Detail21 ft. (6.4 m)

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 7 in. (7.8 m)

Length overall - Meters6.4

Length overall - Meters7.8

Length overall - Inches252

Length overall - Inches307

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardMerCruiser 5.0 l MPI Alpha (catalyst)

Engine/s standard300 php (224 PkW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail73 gal. (276 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters276.33

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal73

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Horsepower260 php (194 PkW)

Horsepowernot available

Engine max320 php (239 PkW)

Engine maxVolvo Penta 5.7 GiC DP

Max no of enginesnot available

Max no of engines430 php (321 PkW)

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Maximum capacity1,800 lbs. (816 kg)

Maximum capacity15

Maximum people12

Maximum people2,585 lbs. (1,173 kg)

Headnot available

HeadPorta Potti

Cobalt Boats 222 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 262 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 is the longer of the two at 25,6 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 222 2011 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 4,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2012?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 has the edge at 41 lbs dry weight versus 5 425 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 262 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 222 2011 is rated to a maximum of 320 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 tops out at 6 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Cobalt Boats 222 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 is certified for 2. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 and Cobalt Boats 262 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 has the bigger tank at 73 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 222 2011. That 68-gallon difference translates to roughly 204–340 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 and Cobalt Boats 262 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 222 2011 and the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 are built by Cobalt Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Cobalt Boats 222 2011 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 262 2012 full specs